50 signatures reached
To: Governor Youngkin
Virginia Students Against the Removal of the School Mask Mandate
On January 15th, Virginia Executive Order number 2 was signed, making it so that parents may opt their children out of the mask mandate if they so choose. This goes against Virginia State Law and comes at a time when covid-19 cases are rising exponentially. This is unacceptable.
As students it it our right to be able to attend a safe learning environment for all students and have equal access to education. For many this executive order leaves them with no choice but to go virtual if they are high risk or have high risk family members, and for areas of our state that have little to no reliable internet, this isn't ethical.
We come before you not asking, but demanding for masks to once again be required at all school buildings. This is not safe. Students, teachers, parents, grandparents, are all put at risk by this executive order. Covid-19 has already killed over 800,000 people in the United States alone, and with this relaxation of mask policy we will see that number rise if we don't do something about it now.
Masks are effective at stopping the spread of Covid-19, and it not only protects someone wearing one from contracting the virus, but keeps them from spreading it as well. It works both ways, that's why everyone needs to be wearing a mask. Science and public health should override political pandering and fear. Masks save lives, and students will not remain silent on this. We will make our voices heard.
As students it it our right to be able to attend a safe learning environment for all students and have equal access to education. For many this executive order leaves them with no choice but to go virtual if they are high risk or have high risk family members, and for areas of our state that have little to no reliable internet, this isn't ethical.
We come before you not asking, but demanding for masks to once again be required at all school buildings. This is not safe. Students, teachers, parents, grandparents, are all put at risk by this executive order. Covid-19 has already killed over 800,000 people in the United States alone, and with this relaxation of mask policy we will see that number rise if we don't do something about it now.
Masks are effective at stopping the spread of Covid-19, and it not only protects someone wearing one from contracting the virus, but keeps them from spreading it as well. It works both ways, that's why everyone needs to be wearing a mask. Science and public health should override political pandering and fear. Masks save lives, and students will not remain silent on this. We will make our voices heard.
Why is this important?
Keeping up previous mask mandates is vital to having a safe learning environment for all students so that everyone can have equal opportunities. Our education shouldn't be put in jeopardy over an executive order that contradicts state law. Our schools have been threatened and forced to comply with this unsafe and unlawful order, so now us students will fight for our safety ourselves.